Boston Red Sox outfielder Tyler O’Neill became the first player in major league history to homer on five straight Opening Days in Thursday’s game at the Seattle Mariners.
In his Red Sox debut, O’Neill went deep on the first pitch of the eighth inning, breaking the mark he had shared with Todd Hundley (1994-97) and Hall of Famers Gary Carter (1977-80) and Yogi Berra (1955-58).
O’Neill’s blast to right-center field off Mariners reliever Cody Bolton gave Boston a 6-4 lead.
O’Neill, 28, came over in an offseason trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, who acquired pitchers Victor Santos and Nick Robertson in the deal.
Selected by the Mariners in the third round of the 2013 draft, O’Neill was traded to the Cardinals in 2017 and made his major league debut in 2018.
In six seasons (477 games) with St. Louis, O’Neill slashed .248/.318/.458 with 78 homers, 40 stolen bases and 217 RBIs and won two Gold Gloves.
